chelle523

UPDATE: 3/25/2013 - I am taking a bit of a break from Swap-bot, except for finishing off a couple of things I'm already involved in. I lost my father-in-law and my father recently, and just need a break to get my head back together again. I'll answer any messages as soon as I can. Thank you. :)

Hi! I'm Michelle. I'm 42, mom of 3 (two of whom have recently flown the nest). I homeschool my youngest. I've been married for 23 years to my best friend, partner in crime, and guy who melts my butter, Gef.

Prince, Lady Gaga, Michael Franti, Queen, Green Day, George Michael, Sheryl Crow, MCR, Evanescence, Bob Marley - just a few of my favorites. I really

Gone with the Wind is my all-time favorite! I also love Braveheart, Everything is Illuminated, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Chocolat, Wizard of Oz, Grease, Dirty Dancing, La Vie En Rose, Sweet Dreams, The Help, Fried Green Tomatoes...oh I have a million favorites!

The Walking Dead, Downton Abbey, Weeds, In Treatment, Boardwalk Empire, United States of Tara, The Tudors, Intervention.

Journals, especially Junk/Smash Journals, ATCs, altered books, collage, mixed media painting, beading.

If, for some reason, you do not receive something from me and I am one of your swap partners, PLEASE be sure to contact me and let me know. I have NEVER flaked on a swap in my life and I don't intend to start anytime soon. But if you don't get something from me and I've marked my items as "sent", let me know and I'll resend right away. Thank you :)

I am NOT someone that's going to check the postmark on your package to make sure of the date it was sent out. We're all adults and as long as it gets here within a reasonable amount of time, no harm, no foul, right? There's way too much other important stuff in life to keep track of, imho.

Crafty stuff: ephemera (especially foreign, vintage, retro), foreign magazines, beads, stickers, charms, funky and handmade papers, funky or fine art rubber stamps, board game pieces, anything written in foreign languages or script, and anything I can use to collage with.

I collect: anything Hello Kitty (she’s my absolute fave!), Kokeshi dolls, postcards, concert tickets and flyers, vintage ads, Japanese erasers, charms for charm bracelets (not Italian - the kind that use jump rings).

I love: Hello Kitty, manatees, otters, peace symbols, “pride” images & objects, found items, Hindu & Buddhist imagery, lotus blossoms, anything in miniature, fine art, mythology, ancient Egypt, paranormal studies (not UFOs or crypto-zoology, though), grungy/punk/urban art, graffiti, gothic imagery, mail art, Ireland, Paris (vintage or modern), beaches, palm trees, island culture, reggae, Key West (fave place on earth!), blank books & journals, postcards, penpal letters, lists, surveys, kawaii, photography, your “story” (who you are, what you do, your life, your history, etc.), genealogy, history, vintage & retro stuff, pin-ups, American culture (esp. 1890s-1950s), “green” living, humor, Monty Python, mod design, indie crafts & art, Day of the Dead imagery and art, literature, stickers, surprises, Japanese culture, Japanese kokeshi dolls, LOLcats and cute baby animal photos.

I have recently gotten into steampunk, so anything steampunk is greatly appreciated!

I also joined postcrossing recently, so postcards would be great!

I do a TON of collage, so foreign magazine images and articles are something I'd absolutely LOVE to get my hands on!

I love candy and gum, but I'm really not into chocolate (yeah, I know - I'm a weirdo!). I love Skittles, Starburst, Spree, candy necklaces, Runts, and most fruity flavored candies. If you've got a freaky cool candy you want to send my way, please do! I love trying new things and I love finding out what people have in other countries.

I also recently got into couponing big time, so if you have any extra coupons you don't want to use, feel free to send them my way!

Great big hugs, kisses and tons of good karma your way if you're able to find Stride Sweet Cinnamon Gum and send it my way. My husband just quit smoking, and that gum has replaced the cigarettes for him, but unfortunately, all the stores around us decided not to carry it anymore. If you can find it and send it to me, I'll dance at your wedding (that's something my grandma used to say, but it's not a literal thing - trust me, you'll thank me for NOT showing up to your wedding and bustin' a move!)

Violence, hatred, negativity, prejudice, intolerance (you get the idea). Not interested in discussing, debating, talking about or hearing about politics or religion. I'm not really into sports. I like almost every kind of music except country and most rap (although I do love Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Ludacris, Nelly, and Outkast).

Desperately seeking:

Empty gift cards or membership cards - anything similar to a credit card - my oldest son got a Guitar Pick Punch for Christmas, so he can make guitar picks out of gift cards and such. Thanks a bunch!!!